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Compton
School District Superintendent to Step Down
Dr. Jesse Gonzales will leave CUSD this summer
By
Allison Jean Eaton
Bulletin
Staff Writer
Dr.
Jesse Gonzales, superintendent of the Compton Unified School District
(CUSD), has announced his resignation.
He is slated to step down from the district’s helm July 31.
Gonzales officially informed the school board of his plans at last
Tuesday’s board meeting, said district Communications Director Daryl
Vinson, and district staff and administrators last Thursday afternoon “with
tears in his eyes.”
“The board is sad that he’s leaving,” said Vinson. “They’ve
had their differences, however Dr. Gonzales has fought very hard
for the district.” He said that district staff was shocked at the
superintendent’s
announcement.
The district plans to hire a firm to complete a nationwide search
for his successor, Vinson said. If necessary and the school board approves,
Assistant Superintendent Robert Nero will serve as interim superintendent.
Gonzales could not be reached for comment as of press time, but in
an official statement he said he plans to retire, travel and spend more
time with his family.
“The Compton Unified School District has been a beautiful tenure
for me,” he said. “I have enjoyed my time serving the children,
the community and the board of trustees.”
A source told The Bulletin Gonzales has cancer.
The 70-year-old took control of CUSD in 2001 as it was being eased
out of state control. Vinson said that when Gonzales took the reigns, 62
percent of the district’s teachers were on waivers, while today 67
percent of teaching staff are highly qualified, certificated educators.
Vinson detailed some of Gonzales’ accomplishments as raising test
scores, establishing a visual and performing arts program — prior
to his taking the position, none of the district’s schools had one — and
hiring band teachers for the district’s middle and high schools.
He’s also run a positive budget every year.
The district was the focal point of controversy last year after The
Bulletin reported it had spent almost all of the $216 million it acquired,
$80 million of which came from a 2002 bond measure, to make improvements
at the district’s 28 deteriorating school sites and had only completed
two. District officials claim soaring construction costs ate up the funds,
and Gonzales stopped the construction program in January due to a looming
program deficit of $20 million to $30 million. And questions still linger
as to the quality of work performed.
Vinson told The Bulletin last week that 27 of the 28 schools are
now complete and had been since he came on board in early March.
The 28th school, Clinton Elementary, is brand new.
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